Marnie Swindells, the Apprentice winner, was left devastated after thieves broke into her London gym and stole £3,000 worth of equipment. This occurred just a week before she was set to celebrate an expansion at Bronx Boxing Club with a celebrity party. Marnie, who secured Lord Sugar’s investment last year, described the moment she discovered the theft as heart-sinking and had to inform Lord Sugar of the bad news. The burglary, which happened just hours before the latest Apprentice final aired on the BBC, added stress to Marnie’s workload as she had already faced delays in the opening of her new space.
The gym owner had to postpone the launch of her fitness studio, café, sauna, and disabled access multiple times, and the break-in further complicated the situation. Marnie expressed her frustration at having to call the police, conduct forensic tests, and figure out how to recover quickly to still meet the deadline. Despite the setback, Marnie continued to work long hours, committing to manual labor to ensure everything would be ready for the launch. Lord Sugar, who was supportive in the face of the unfortunate incident, encouraged Marnie to persevere even in challenging times.
Despite the difficulties, Marnie hoped that her hard work leading up to the expansion launch would pay off as she prepared to host a guest list of stars at the event. The gym owner acknowledged the hidden effort behind the scenes, including painting floors and cleaning until the early hours, to ensure the success of the business. The launch was attended by various celebrities from the boxing world, the Misfits scene, up-and-coming professionals, as well as personalities from the latest Apprentice series, including winner Rachel Woolford.
Lord Sugar, while unable to attend Marnie’s launch due to being overseas, was actively involved in trying to secure heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua’s presence. Marnie highlighted Lord Sugar’s dedication and commitment to the success of the business beyond just financial investment. She emphasized the personal connection and mentorship aspect of their partnership, where Lord Sugar showed genuine interest in seeing young entrepreneurs succeed and navigate the challenges he once faced. Despite the setback caused by the theft, Marnie remained grateful for Lord Sugar’s support and encouragement.
